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I often get an idea or observation about this or that that doesn't warrant a thread but might be worth sharing here, so here is my first one.

We eat minced beef perhaps once a week, either with pasta or shepherds pie, and it is me that cooks most times.

I have always complained about the fat content.

I fry it dry, put the mince into a pan and heat it until it's own fat content is released so it fries in it's own fat until browned. It would be drained of in a wire strainer before adding further ingredients.

Now the observation.....................the latest selection of minced beef is fat reduced and it doesn't fry by itself anymore......and.......without the beef fat content it doesn't taste the same......or is it just me?

Whether we like it or not (the consequences not the taste) fat is essential. It gives food flavour and texture. Id shop around for that bit of extra fat in your mince.

I switched to minced pork some years ago, can't stand the smell of minced beef cooking! I don't add fat but there certainly isn't the amount of fat that the beef used to produce.

Pah. I smother any form of meat in oil before I start cooking it, mince included. The less oil the meat contains the more I swill it in oil. My chicken practically drowns in oil before the heat gets to it. Oil is the predominant constituent of any meat dish I plan. Some people are just wimps.

spot;1480656 wrote: Pah. I smother any form of meat in oil before I start cooking it, mince included. The less oil the meat contains the more I swill it in oil. My chicken practically drowns in oil before the heat gets to it. Oil is the predominant constituent of any meat dish I plan. Some people are just wimps.


I have several signature dishes, for the fried chicken thighs, I don't add any oil at all. After trimming the access skin, I put the seasoned chicken skin side down in a heated dry pan, by the time it needs turning there is more than enough cooking fat.

I prefer not to have a layer of fat floating on top of my dinner.

It is my birthday today..................where were the cards ?

Bruv;1480834 wrote: It is my birthday today..................where were the cards ?


Happy Birthday Bruv!:yh_party

Bruv;1480834 wrote: It is my birthday today..................where were the cards ?


Sorry, moonpig.com was down and I couldn't send you any.

Hippy Barthday!! :-6

Seasonal congratulations.

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow

For he's a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us

And so say all of us, and so say all of us

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow

For he's a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us.

Na zdrowie - sto lat!

I thank you all.

Spot Nie ma jeszcze towarzysza

My latest peeve.............does anybody else find these adverts......on the edge of being offensive ?

I am sure there was a series of them

Thought they were stopped, after public reaction, but perhaps they have toned them down a little.

I didn't understand it at all. I've no idea what they were trying to advertise. I rarely see adverts but when I do I'm often puzzled why anyone would pay to have them made like that, much less shown. Most are shockingly uninspired. There was a series by DirectTV, I remember, which were memorable, though I wouldn't have bought their product even so.

spot;1481130 wrote: I didn't understand it at all. I've no idea what they were trying to advertise. I rarely see adverts but when I do I'm often puzzled why anyone would pay to have them made like that, much less shown. Most are shockingly uninspired. There was a series by DirectTV, I remember, which were memorable, though I wouldn't have bought their product even so.


I disagree, adverts are among some of the best short films you can hope to see on TV.

This is advert that has come second in the most complained about.

Obvious really.

Bruv;1481136 wrote: I disagree, adverts are among some of the best short films you can hope to see on TV.


Or more often, worst.

I do like a clever ad, but they are rare, IMHO.

OK I concede many are trash, some of the others are irritating, but amongst the trashy, irritating, formula ads and programs you get a minor work of art.

Here is an old Guinness ad

Guinness does some clever ads.

I haven't been keeping up with this thread. Sorry.



HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BRUV!

AnneBoleyn;1481145 wrote: I haven't been keeping up with this thread. Sorry.


Thank you Annie, you may have to get detention if you keep bunking off (Thats English for repeated unofficial absence)

Talking of English slang, this was one of my questions today in the quiz......."Give it a lash means which of the following ?"

I have never heard of 'the lash' in that context, has any of the other Brits on here ?

The supposedly correct answer ? Try Something ?

Also in the quiz, frequently was spelled frecuently..........doesn't give you much trust in the quiz adjudicators does it ?

Bruv;1481147 wrote: Talking of English slang, this was one of my questions today in the quiz......."Give it a lash means which of the following ?"

I have never heard of 'the lash' in that context, has any of the other Brits on here ?

The supposedly correct answer ? Try Something ?

Also in the quiz, frequently was spelled frecuently..........doesn't give you much trust in the quiz adjudicators does it ?
You have evidently found a typo - it should have related to "give it a bash".

Maybe the question was set by an American.

Bruv;1481146 wrote: you may have to get detention if you keep bunking off (Thats English for repeated unofficial absence)


Good lord is that what it means? My old housemaster would be spinning in his grave if he heard you use such an expression.

It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different. One does not "bunk off", one applies for an exeat in advance or, should an emergency have arisen, retrospectively.

I note from the BBC that medics have reported a number of cases where patients have developed tingly, numb thighs from wearing figure-hugging low-cut denim trousers. In light of this disturbing news I may have to rethink my wardrobe.

Bruv;1481147 wrote: Talking of English slang, this was one of my questions today in the quiz......."Give it a lash means which of the following ?"

I have never heard of 'the lash' in that context, has any of the other Brits on here ?

The supposedly correct answer ? Try Something ?

Also in the quiz, frequently was spelled frecuently..........doesn't give you much trust in the quiz adjudicators does it ?


spot;1481148 wrote: You have evidently found a typo - it should have related to "give it a bash".

Maybe the question was set by an American.




Never heard of it in the States.

A quick google suggests it came from Ireland, though the only real supporting info seems to stem from a musical fan of the Irish Football team.

LarsMac;1481150 wrote: A quick google suggests it came from Ireland, though the only real supporting info seems to stem from a musical fan of the Irish Football team.


Ah. That makes sense. Back when education was predominantly the domain of nuns, Irish boys were always being reminded to respect the senior clergy. Bishop-bashing was a mortal sin if you were Catholic.

spot;1481148 wrote: You have evidently found a typo - it should have related to "give it a bash".

Maybe the question was set by an American.


The question was set by an American, don't be coy.

Or it could have been totally mixed up and been the more widely English usage of the word lash, as in 'going on the lash'.

But then as we don't mix in the same circles you might never have come across that use.

But what about the frecuently, yet another typo in the same quiz ?

Bruv;1481152 wrote: But what about the frecuently, yet another typo in the same quiz ?
It occurs so often, I'd say it was more an alternate spelling than a mistake. Google will show you 550 instances if you ask it nicely, some in reference to "Sequrity".

I seem to remember the origin of Bunking Off referred to "Running Away To Sea" (as in a Cabin Bunk).

spot;1481149 wrote: Good lord is that what it means? My old housemaster would be spinning in his grave if he heard you use such an expression.

It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different. One does not "bunk off", one applies for an exeat in advance or, should an emergency have arisen, retrospectively.

I note from the BBC that medics have reported a number of cases where patients have developed tingly, numb thighs from wearing figure-hugging low-cut denim trousers. In light of this disturbing news I may have to rethink my wardrobe.


We bunked or skived off school, one would NEVER apply for an exeat in advance nor retrospectively. You just did it and never offered any explanation to anyone.

Betty Boop;1481163 wrote: We bunked or skived off school, one would NEVER apply for an exeat in advance nor retrospectively. You just did it and never offered any explanation to anyone.


Looks like we are from similar social spheres Betty.

I hate to pick on the Beeb, what with Spot's continual campaign about the grammar and such like.

But the desk in the BBC Wimbledon Studio has wound me up since I first saw it this year.

It has a thick glass looking corner that projects toward the front HERE

It is aesthetically unpleasing and a danger to any toddlers roaming the studio, it could take an eye out or bring up a bloodied lump on low level foreheads.

Why didn't they shape the front to mirror the logo on the desk top ?

I may write them a stiff letter.

As another observation I have to report I have acquired a stomach that shelters soap suds when I bathe and I hate it.

I have always been svelte, others might say slight, but slim enough anyway that I have never needed to lift my belly to make sure the soap was washed away.

I may have to diet.

I've spent nights awake worrying about that desk myself and hope to God there are no young infants running around that studio.

I've also wondered how it doesnt topple over with that overhanging, top heavy design.

As for the island belly. I always swore I'd never get one but I have and at our age - well, my age - it's harder to make it go away

I am glad it's not just me then, don't think it's worth an online petition though.

Recent photos of Angela Merkel show that the job seems to have aged her quite remarkably.

Must be a tough job.

LarsMac;1482650 wrote: Recent photos of Angela Merkel show that the job seems to have aged her quite remarkably.

Must be a tough job.


Oh.....I see......that is YOUR observation or aside.

I was trying to work out what that has to do with my belly.

Many of our leaders age quickly, Barack wasn't always that grey.....sorry gray.

The chances are that it's not really there at all - just the result of some Green Screening. After all, look at some of the impressive effects they do with 3D graphics when they're doing the Elections - and they have to keep changing.

Funny how peoples minds work, well, mine anyway.

I happened to see a person on TV say they had a phobia about toast sweat, you heard right, the moisture created when you put newly toasted bread on a plate.

The observation ?

I have had this on my mind ever since, not a constant worry or anything. I remembered a work colleague standing toast on edge until it cooled before buttering, leaning two slices against each other.

I do the same, because I haven't got a toast rack.

I had some cheese on toast this morning.........toast sweat underneath the second slice.....big time.

Hope I am not getting phobic about this.

How can anyone not use a toast rack?

Bryan Douglas Antique Sterling Silver Toast racks

Since no moisture can condense on a warmed plate, I take it you've just been serving your toasted cheese on a cold plate without taking the trouble to warm it beforehand. Thirty seconds in a shallow bowl of boiling water is all it takes. The plate will evaporate dry before it reaches the breakfast table.

spot;1482913 wrote: How can anyone not use a toast rack?

Bryan Douglas Antique Sterling Silver Toast racks

Since no moisture can condense on a warmed plate, I take it you've just been serving your toasted cheese on a cold plate without taking the trouble to warm it beforehand. Thirty seconds in a shallow bowl of boiling water is all it takes. The plate will evaporate dry before it reaches the breakfast table.


I can buy 326 loaves with the price of that rack, but the hot plate idea is genius.

And it solves the problem of the hot dripping cheese covered slice being upended and so losing it's topping.

You are cleverer than I first thought.

I too form a tent shape with my two slices in order to avoid the "toast sweat" but occasionally, especially with thick uncut bread, I slather butter on the very hot toast and eat it immediately.

Word of the day : Slather

You can't beat a good slather.

Never gave much thought to the "sweat" but then, I slather on the butter the moment the toaster pops, and often stack the toast on a paper towel.

I hate trying to apply butter to a cold slice of toast or bagel.

Not to mention an English Muffin. Which gets me to wondering down a similar path.

I love a good English Muffin, and like the kind that require you to split them with a fork. Lately however, all of the ones I can find in the market these days are "pre-split" usually by a slicer, rather than a fork. I hate that. It changes the texture, and makes it harder to attach jellies and Marmalade to the thing.

and a question.

What do the English call an English Muffin?

LarsMac;1482931 wrote: .........

What do the English call an English Muffin?


Just a muffin as far as I know

Do you have crumpets ? Now that's a decent accompaniment to half a pound of butter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumpet

I call 'English' Muffins 'Muffins'

I call American Muffins 'Stale Sponge Cakes'.

Absolutely right about crumpets, though. I don't I've come across any other country have them. Not only are they good with butter, but excellent with grilled cheese melting into the holes.

Traveled to a family wedding yesterday in Wiltsire.

Google told me it should take 3 hours 10 mins with traffic, so we allowed 4 hours it took 5 and a half hours. We left early, hoping the return would be easier, it took 5 hours.

Could not believe the amount of time spent virtually stationary. At ten past midnight we sat for approximately an hour and half shuffling along at car length distances. 3 of the 4 lanes shown to be closed on the overhead signs, but traffic whizzed past on the outside lanes, until presumably they arrived at the point several miles ahead when the lanes cut down to one due to resurfacing work. Why oh why did the workers not put out cones over several miles filtering the lanes down from 4 to one to avoid the bloody bottle neck that was so obviously going to form ?

You would appear to have discovered the M25 by the sound of it, London's Orbital Car Park.

I had the opposite when I went to Christchurch on Marcus. Being my first long run I checked Google which said 1:45, so I allowed 2:30. It actually took me 1:25.

spot;1483698 wrote: You would appear to have discovered the M25 by the sound of it, London's Orbital Car Park.


Surprisingly much of the problem was on the M3, the local M20 was clear for the day luckily.

The flow was slow passing Stonehenge...................slow enough to take a piccy on my phone, then I realised everybody else was going slow to do the same.

FourPart;1483701 wrote: I had the opposite when I went to Christchurch on Marcus. Being my first long run I checked Google which said 1:45, so I allowed 2:30. It actually took me 1:25.


Wish we had traveled on a bike, they shoot between the cars with ease.